Risk factors and recidivism: Strive treatment program for adolescent sex offenders

This study examined the effectiveness of STRIVE, an adolescent outpatient sex offender treatment program. Research on the effectiveness of treatment for adolescent sex offenders is needed, and this study addressed several previously noted limitations by including a relatively large sample size, a matched comparison group of youths with the same estimated level of risk as the treatment group, the use of a data analysis technique that accounted for differences in time, and adult as well as adolescent criminal data in order to increase the follow up period to 12 years. The sample (n = 135) included 2 groups of youth who were adjudicated of sexual offenses and assessed to be at low-to-moderate risk of reoffending: a treatment group of 89 youths who completed treatment through STRIVE and a comparison group of 49 youths who either did not follow through on a recommendation to complete treatment through STRIVE or dropped out of treatment. STRIVE was found to reduce overall (24.4% versus 40.8%) and nonsexual recidivism (22.1% versus 36.7%) but not sexual recidivism (4.7% versus 4.1%). Rates of sexual recidivism were low, however, for both groups.;A Cox proportional hazard model was also used to determine risk factor variables that were predictive of nonsexual and overall recidivism. Statistical power was too low to assess for predictors of sexual recidivism (.012). Criminal history, substance use, threat tactics, coercion tactics, age at first arrest, and age at first sex offense were associated with nonsexual recidivism at the bivariate level. Ethnicity and history of sexual abuse were also found to be associated with overall recidivism at the bivariate level; however, when accounting for other risk factors in the model, substance use was the only factor that continued to predict nonsexual and overall recidivism after taking into account the other risk factors. Age at first arrest was predictive of overall but not nonsexual recidivism, possibly due to the inclusion of youths who sexually recidivated in the overall model. When controlling for significant risk factors, treatment continued to show a positive effect in reducing nonsexual and overall recidivism.